Well-boring stem.



, Nl. E. LAYNE.

WELL omG STEM. APPLICATION FILED DEC. l, 1913.

atend Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

MAIELON E. LAYNE, F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

l 'WELL-BORING STEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 1191*?.

Application led December 1, 1913. Serial No. 803,889.

To all whom z't man] concern.'

Be it known that I, MAHLON E. LAYNE, a

I citizen of' the United States, `residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Well-Boring Stems, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to well boring stems,

`and particularly to the coupling means for the sections of tubing comprising the stem. The invention has for its primary objects; the provision of a construction wherein the tendency of the stem to buckle at the couplings is eliminated; the provision of a coupling structure wherein the outside diameter of the stem at the coupling is maintained the saine as at other portions of the stem while tive grip upon the outside of the 20 -connection between the outer still providing means for securing a posistein; the provision of interior securing means which do not materially interfere with the flow of water through the stem and wherein the tendency of the pipe to rupture at the juncture between the pipe and the thickened re inforcing means is reduced; the provision of guide threads on the coupling members to become injured through mismating is eliminated; and the provision of means whereby the threaded parts can be brought into secure and posi/tive interlocking engagement after the threads have become worn and loosened. Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a well boring stem at Athe coupling or joint, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the coupling, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the end of the internally threaded coupling member, Fig. 4 is an end view of the internally threaded coupling member, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the end of the externally threaded coupling member, Fig. 6 is an end view of the last mentioned coupling member, and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are longitudinal sec- -tions through boring stems having modified forms of coupling connections.

Referring iii-st to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, 1 and 2 are the usual tubes which make up the main portion of theborcoupling members secured rigidly to the ends of the tubes 1 and 2. In order to secure this rigid ends of the .the member 3 is means whereby the tendency of the- A members, the

coupling members 3 and 4 and the tubes, the ends of the coupling members are formed so as to fit inside the tubes and are provided with a series of holes 5 preferably arranged in the form of spirals as indicatedin Fig. 2. The ends of the tubes preferably abutting the shoulders 6 and 7, and after the tubes have been fitted in place over the ends of the `coupling members the metal of the' tubes is punched into the recesses 5 as indicated in Fig.' 1. This forcing in of the metalof the tubes may be accomplished in any de- .sired way, but is preferably 'done by passing the couplings under rotating drums provided with properly spaced punches.

' 11s indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, the member 4 is'provided with an internally tapering portion having the screw threads 8, while 0 provided with an external tapering portion provided with the screw threads 9 adapted to coperate with the screw .threads'8. In order to guide the two lparts into position and avoid injury to the threads due to mismatin'g, the innerl end of the member 3 is provided with a cylindrical portion\10 adapted to ft intothe portion 11 on the member 4. After the two members have been telescoped into positiony they can be rigidly screw threaded together-by a relatively slight amount of rotation.

In order to provide for a certain amount of adjustment between the screwthreaded annular washers l2 (Fig. l) are provided between the end of the member 4 and the shoulder 13 on the member 3. If the thread should wear and become loose a washer can be removed, which permits of a slight further relative rotation of the coupling members to bring-the screw threads into tight locking engagement. In order to provide for slight cutting action when the members are rotated to a new position toy take up wear, the threaded portions of the two members are provided with the longitudinal grooves 14 and 15, which grooves cause the threaded portions to act somewhat as dies. The groove also serves to carry lubricant.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the ends of the members 3 and 4 are tapered at the portions marked 16. These tapered portions act somewhat as nozzles, so' that there is 'very little retardation of the liquid due to the contracted portions, and further serve to redu\ce the tendency of the lends of the coupling members,

tubes to fracture at the juncture between the. coupling members and the tubes. there is a slight amount of resiliency at the andthe strain upon the tube due to lateral bending action is not as severe as would be the case i reinforcing means upon the interior were absolutely rigid. It will be further noted .that the exterior diameter of the coupling mem. bers intermediate the ends of the tubes 1 and 2 is substantially that of the tubes themselves, so that there is no added resistance Vto the downward movement of the stem due' to the coupling, since the coupling members pass as readily through the various strata as do the tubes themselves.

lIn ,order to provide means for securely gripping the stem th material of the member3` isnnt. away, forming the groove 17, which beengaged by any desired lifting means.

A modified structure is illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein the coupling means 18 land 19 are formed by upsetting vthe ends of the tubes 20 and 21. The screw threaded connectio'nis .the same in connection w.ith' Eig. 1, and the washers 22 permit ofthe kjustment,heretofore described. In tructure two gripping recesses 23 areprovided, one on each of the coupling members. This is the strongest of the various structures and'preferred for that reason.

In the construction of Fig.' 8

the coupling members 24 and 25 are provided at their outer ends with corrugations 26, into which .corrugations the metal ofthe tubes 27 and 28 isrolled, the members being supported during such operation by means of mandrels. The construction in other respects is substantially the same as heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1. In the construction of Fig. 9 the tubes 29 and '3G-are shrunk upon the ends of the coupling members 31 and 32, and in order to -ve -additional security. the triangular ringsv 33 fitting in recesses between` the coupling members and tubes are welded to such parts, nection at the ends of the tubes. In this construction no washers like the washers 12 of Fig. 1 are used, the end of the member 31 coming in contact with the shoulder 34 onthe member 32. As the threads between the two members wear and it becomes necessary, the end of the member 31 can bel turned or ground olf, thus permitting the members to be screwed closer together. Thismodication is all the variousv forms of What I claim is p 1. In .combination ina well boring stem,

pair of tubes, reinforcing tubular coupling means at the ends of the tubes having a tapering screw connection, the interior construction.

That 1s, f

j interior diameter vually increasing diameter from the portions Vbeing tapered internally at l the interior as heretofore described thus giving a very secure cona 'pair of tubes,

ofcourse applicable to v washerbetween the stopmeans,

diameter of the reinforcing coupling means at their meeting-ends being less than the of the tubes, with a gradof reduced diameter to the other ends of the reinforcing means.

2. In combination in a a pair of tubes, reinforcing coupling means at the ends of the tubes having a tapering screw connection, lthe said coupling means being tapered internally at their outer ends and having their interior diameter atl their inner ends materially reduced from that of the interior diameter of the tubes. v 3. In combination in a well boring stem, a pair of tubes, reinforcing coupling means at the ends of the tubes having a tapering screw connection, the said coupling means their outer ends ameter vat .their materially reduced from that of diameter of the tubes, and the exterior diameter` of the coupling means being substantially the same as that of the said tubes. Y

4. In'combi'nation in a well boring stem, a pair of tubes, a4 reinforcing coup g means at the end of one tube having a tapering externally threaded portion and a cylindrical guide portion in advance of the threaded portion, and Ja second reinforcing coupling means at the end of the other tube having a tapering internally threaded portion and a portion to the rear thereof formedto receive and it the said guide portion o the first' coupling means. 5. In combina ion in a well boring stem, a pair of tubes, a reinforcing coupling means at the end of one tube, having a tapering externally threaded portion and an external stop portion, a second reinforcing coupling means at lthe end vof the-other tube having an internally tapering threaded portion and a stop portion opposing the stop vportion on lthe other coupling means, and a'plurality of washers between the said stop means, clearance being provided in the well boring stem,

and having their interior inner ends second couplingmeans opposite the end of the first mentioned coupling the coupling means may be together on Athe removal of one of washers.

6.l In com means whereby screwed farther the ination in a well boring stem, a reinforcing coupling means at'the end of one tube having a tapering externally threaded portion, a second reinforcing coupling means at the end of ,the other tube-having an internally tapering threaded portion, .opposing stop means on the twocoupling means,cand a one o the said threaded portions' being longitudinally v 7 In combinationin a wellboring stem,

a pair of tubes, `a reinforcing coupling 1l means at the end of one tube havingV a ta'- signed my name in the presence of the two pered externally threaded portion, and a subscribed Witnesses. second reinforcing coupling means at the end of the other tube having an internally v MAHLON E LAYNE' 5 tapering threaded portion, said threaded Witnessesz.

portions being longitudinally grooved. R. H. KELLY,

In testimony whereof have hereunto WILBERT DAVIS. 

